Hiding a Column

[GeorgeE]

In the older versions of Excel you could hide a column by highlighting the column, right clicking and selecting hide. In the latest version that function seems to be missing. When hide is selected, the entire worksheet disappears. Is there a work around?
Thanks,
George

[MarvinP]

Hi George,

In my current version of Excel, hide column works just like you described above. I select the whole column by clicking on the letter above it and then RIGHT click. Both Hide and Unhide are on the list. If you want to unhide a column select multiple column across the hidden one and Unhide.

[ChemistB]

I have never heard of hiding a worksheet unless you are right clicking on the tab. What version are you using? Is it 2003 as per your profile (if not, please update).

[GeorgeE]

I am using 2019. I fixed my profile. Thanks

[MarvinP]

What are we trying to hide here? The whole worksheet (tab) or a Column in a single worksheet? Did I misread the question?

[GeorgeE]

I am trying to hide multiple columns.

[MarvinP]

Hey George,

See of this YouTube finds what I'm missing to explain. I find there are a few different places to click on "Hide". It is hiding in a few different places?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZB_p2ilwo2I

[GeorgeE]

I am using Excel 2019 and the options described in the video are not available to me as I said above. They are grayed out and can't be used.
Thanks, George

[MarvinP]

Hey George,

Excel grays out tools when they don't make sense to what you are doing. An example would be: You are in the middle of creating a formula, then Hide Column would be grayed out. Or if you have selected a range of cells then it would be grayed out. If you are not in the middle of doing other things it would not be grayed out. After some study I find that you can't hide columns that have Merged Cells in them from:
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7048707
Do you have merged cells in those columns you are trying to gray out? I think this is the answer.

[jeffreybrown]

Maybe the sheet is protected!

[GeorgeE]

For some reason the hide is working now. Thanks for your help.
Best,
George

[ChemistB]

There seems to be some confusion as to exactly what is happening so let's take this step by step:

you could hide a column by highlighting the column, right clicking and selecting hide.

Okay, that is true on all versions of Excel. So you mentioned that you are trying to hide multiple columns. You are selecting the entire column, then right clicking on that same column.

In the latest version that function seems to be missing.

When you right click on the column, the "Hide" option is not there or it is grayed out?

When hide is selected, the entire worksheet disappears.

If the option is not available, where are you selecting "Hide" from?
Here's where "Hide" appears.

1. When you right click on a row or column which is completely selected, it appears in the menu to hide the row or column
2. When you right click on the tab, it appears in the menu to hide to worksheet.
3. On the View Tab in the Ribbon, there are options to Hide and Unhide which Hides or unhides entire workbooks

As Jeff pointed out, the Hide function will be grayed out if the worksheet is protected.

[GeorgeE]

Thanks. It seems to be working.

[ChemistB]

Curious, what did you do to fix it?

[jeffreybrown]

Good new George. Glad all is working for your now and thanks for the feedback. We are truly happy to help.

If that takes care of your original question, please select Thread Tools from the menu link above and mark this thread as SOLVED.